Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 1 hr ago
Johnny Depp says he tried for two years to leave 21 Jump Street
Johnny Depp says he tried for two years to get fired from the television series 21 Jump Street.
The show ran from 1987 to 1991 and starred Depp as Thomas Hanson, a young police officer in a special unit that went undercover in high schools.
Depp said he feared being trapped in a handsome-young-man role and that the pressure came close to causing panic.
He told TF1 that the people behind the series would not let him leave.
He felt the role was limiting his creative freedom, and later described the show’s direction as increasingly commercial.
After four seasons, Depp went on to star in films including Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, and he made a cameo in the 2012 21 Jump Street film.
The story gives no indication of a new project or next step involving the series.
Johnny Depp said he tried for two years to get fired from the television series 21 Jump Street.
He said the role made him fear being typecast as a handsome young actor.
Depp played police officer Thomas Hanson for four seasons of the series, which aired from 1987 to 1991.
He made the comments on TF1’s evening news programme on Sunday.
Depp later appeared in a cameo in the 2012 film inspired by the series.
- Who
- Johnny Depp, who played Thomas Hanson in 21 Jump Street.
- What
- He said he tried to get fired from the series for two years but the producers would not let him go.
- When
- He made the comments on a Sunday evening. The series aired from 1987 to 1991.
- Where
- He spoke on TF1’s evening news programme.
- Why
- He feared being typecast and said the role made him feel almost panicked.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
21 Jump Street aired, with Depp starring for four seasons.
Depp said he tried to get fired from the series, but his attempts failed.
Depp spoke to the Telegraph about feeling creatively confined by the later seasons.
Depp made a cameo in the film inspired by 21 Jump Street.
- Series
- 21 Jump Street
- Depp’s character
- Thomas Hanson
- Broadcast years
- 1987–1991
- Seasons
- Four
- Cameo film release
- 2012
What people are saying
I really tried to get fired from this television series for two years.
They really tried to lock me into this mould.
I was so young. It scared me so much that it was almost at the level of panic.
It just started to become false. It started to become this action-packed can of soup, you know? You market it and send it out.